Officers say about 10 individuals rescued after accident in African nation’s northwestern area.
Rescuers are trying to find greater than 40 people who find themselves lacking after a ship capsized in Nigeria’s northwestern state of Sokoto, in keeping with authorities.
Nigeria’s Nationwide Emergency Administration Company (NEMA) stated on Sunday that its Sokoto operations workplace had deployed a response staff to help rescue efforts following the “tragic boat mishap”.
NEMA’s director normal, Zubaida Umar, stated the company responded after “receiving studies {that a} boat conveying over 50 passengers to Goronyo Market had capsized”.
NEMA stated in a press release shared on social media that about 10 individuals had been rescued, and greater than 40 different passengers had been lacking.
Nigeria’s The Punch newspaper, citing a neighborhood official, stated the accident might have been attributable to overloading, a recurring subject for boats within the state’s riverine communities.
Boat accidents are widespread in Nigeria, notably throughout the annual wet season, from March to October, when rivers and lakes overflow.
Not less than 16 farmers died in an identical accident in Sokoto State in August 2024, when a wood canoe carrying them throughout a river to their rice fields capsized.
Final month, a minimum of 13 individuals died and dozens extra went lacking after a ship ferrying about 100 passengers capsized in Niger State, in north-central Nigeria.
Two days later, six ladies drowned after a ship taking them residence from farm work capsized midstream within the northwestern Jigawa State.
